Erica Gies is an independent journalist, National Geographic Explorer, and author of "Water Always Wins: Thriving in an age of drought and deluge." She covers water, climate, and wildlife for

Erica Gies is an independent journalist, National Geographic Explorer, and author of "Water Always Wins: Thriving in an age of drought and deluge." She covers water, climate, and wildlife for major publications like *Scientific American* and *The New York Times*. Her accolades include the Sierra Club’s Rachel Carson Award and the Renewable Natural Resources Foundation’s Excellence in Journalism Award.

This keynote was presented at the 2024 Bioneers Conference. Additional talks from the conference can be viewed at http://www.bioneers.org.

U.S. wetlands, vital ecosystems like marshes and swamps, face an urgent crisis. Half of these critical habitats in the lower 48 states have vanished since the 1780s. A 2023 Supreme Court decision

U.S. wetlands, vital ecosystems like marshes and swamps, face an urgent crisis. Half of these critical habitats in the lower 48 states have vanished since the 1780s. A 2023 Supreme Court decision further stripped federal protections, leaving remaining wetlands vulnerable to destruction.

This loss devastates biodiversity; nearly 50% of threatened and endangered species rely on wetlands, with over a third living exclusively there. Wetlands also protect water quality and mitigate flood risks. Act now: Tell the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect more critical habitat for wetland-dependent species. Learn more at www.saveourfreshwater.org.

Earth Island's New Leaders Initiative hosted a virtual Eco-Anxiety Panel on September 12, 2024. Climate psychologist Leslie Davenport moderated the event, which featured Brower Youth Awards

Earth Island's New Leaders Initiative hosted a virtual Eco-Anxiety Panel on September 12, 2024. Climate psychologist Leslie Davenport moderated the event, which featured Brower Youth Awards Alumni.

Alumni Rachel Barge, Mackenzie Feldman, and Hamid Torabzadeh shared insights into eco-anxiety, offering coping strategies and discussing ways to overcome its challenges.

The "Global Voices for Climate Justice in a Time of Uncertainty" panel was held on June 24th, 2025, as part of the Global Women’s Assembly for Climate Justice: Path to COP30 and Beyond.

The "Global Voices for Climate Justice in a Time of Uncertainty" panel was held on June 24th, 2025, as part of the Global Women’s Assembly for Climate Justice: Path to COP30 and Beyond. Hosted by the Women’s Earth and Climate Network (WECAN) from June 23-28, 2025, the assembly served as a crucial platform for climate action.

The panel featured distinguished leaders such as Mary Robinson, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, and Christiana Figueres. The broader assembly convened over 125 grassroots and frontline women leaders, advocates, and policymakers from 50 countries. Across 25 unique panels, participants presented diverse visions and strategies to accelerate a transformative path towards a healthy and just world.

The Circular Economy Show features Rachel O’Reilly (Accenture) discussing their upcoming report, ‘Circularity is Working.’ This report guides consumer adoption by highlighting successful

The Circular Economy Show features Rachel O’Reilly (Accenture) discussing their upcoming report, ‘Circularity is Working.’ This report guides consumer adoption by highlighting successful circularity examples, from Liverpool musicians reinvesting savings to Hamburg's informal sharing systems. Rachel shares insights into hidden drivers crucial for normalizing, embedding, and scaling circularity.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an international charity, accelerates the transition to a circular economy to tackle global challenges like climate change and waste. Explore their work at ellenmacarthurfoundation.org. Subscribe for more videos on YouTube, and follow them on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Rachel, a social worker and mother of two children in West Virginia, is deeply concerned about the impacts of climate change.

She is calling on Senator Joe Manchin to take bold and decisive

Rachel, a social worker and mother of two children in West Virginia, is deeply concerned about the impacts of climate change.

She is calling on Senator Joe Manchin to take bold and decisive action to address this critical issue.

Amid rising anti-Asian violence, filmmaker and actor Bee Vang, known for *Gran Torino*, will discuss Hollywood's role in perpetuating anti-Asian ideas. A Hmong-American activist, journalist, and

Amid rising anti-Asian violence, filmmaker and actor Bee Vang, known for *Gran Torino*, will discuss Hollywood's role in perpetuating anti-Asian ideas. A Hmong-American activist, journalist, and policy researcher, Vang has also appeared in "Modern Family" and "Comisery."

Vang will join co-hosts Michelle Meow and John Zipperer on "The Michelle Meow Show" at The Commonwealth Club on Thursday, April 22, at 12:00 PM PDT.

For more information, support, and events from The Commonwealth Club, visit: commonwealthclub.org/covid19support, youtube.com/user/commonwealthclub, commonwealthclub.org/events, commonwealthclub.org/membership, support.commonwealthclub.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=298, commonwealthclub.org/watch-listen, facebook.com/thecommonwealthclub, instagram.com/cwclub, twitter.com/cwclub.

Elise Dudley, a Senior Sustainability Major from Furman University, focuses on food justice. Her extensive experience includes farm work, addressing food insecurity, and studying sustainable food

Elise Dudley, a Senior Sustainability Major from Furman University, focuses on food justice. Her extensive experience includes farm work, addressing food insecurity, and studying sustainable food systems in Denmark. As a Rachel Carson Council fellow, she researches how backyard gardening can create resilient foodscapes.

Driven by curiosity, Elise aspires to contribute to a circular, equitable, and regenerative food future. Her TEDx talk will explore crisis gardening and a vision where local food production and home gardening reconnect people with food and benefit the planet.

Learn more about TEDx events here.

Sustainable transitions and climate change mitigation require a holistic focus on food systems and their sovereignty struggles. Rachel Reckinger, a food sociologist and anthropologist at the

Sustainable transitions and climate change mitigation require a holistic focus on food systems and their sovereignty struggles. Rachel Reckinger, a food sociologist and anthropologist at the University of Luxembourg, leads the 'Sustainable Food Practices' research project. Her work addresses critical debates on food sovereignty, biodiversity, inequity, and the search for sustainable production, consumption, and governance, highlighting the vital role of social sciences.

Reckinger actively contributes to policy, co-creating Luxembourg's Food Policy Council to foster resilient food system alternatives. She also holds a mandate in the Conseil Supérieur pour un Développement Durable. This talk was delivered at an independently organized TEDx event. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx.

Join CCL Executive Mark Reynolds for the opening plenary, featuring remarks from Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), Senator Mike Braun (R-IN), former Representative Carlos Curbelo (FL-26), and Rachel

Join CCL Executive Mark Reynolds for the opening plenary, featuring remarks from Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), Senator Mike Braun (R-IN), former Representative Carlos Curbelo (FL-26), and Rachel Kyte, Dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

Access the #CCL2020 slide deck and additional presentations: http://cclusa.org/presentations

Join CCL: https://cclusa.org/join